Apparatus for counting and banding envelopes and the like



Dec. 22, 1959 R. WINKLER EI'AL I 2,917,884

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND BANDING ENvELoPEs AND THE LIKE Fiied Aug. 2o, 195s 5 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Richard Winkler am! BY Kurt' Dnnebz'e'r ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 R, wlNKLER ETAL APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND BANDING ENvELoPEs AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2o, 195e 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ric/lara Wink/er czm By Kay-' znn ez'er A TTORNE Y Dec. 22, 1959 R. wlNKLER ETAL 2,917,884

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2o, 195s l 5 sheets-sheet s INVEN TOR.

` Richard Win/(2er 2mal` BY Kur-t nnebz'er ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1959 R, wliNKLER ETAL APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND BANDING ENVELOPE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20, 1956 Dec. 22, 1959 R. WINKLER ETAL I APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND BANDING ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 20. 1956 5 SheetseSheet 5 69| INVENTOR. Rza/mrd la/znk [er am! /BY/(ur' Dnnezr AT'TRNEY 'Claims priority,

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING AND'BANDING ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Richard Winkler, Rengsdorf, near Neuwied, andKurt Dunnebier, Wollendorf, near Neuwied, Germany, as-

siguors to Berkley `Macl1ine Company, `Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 20, 1956, Serial No.604,878

application Germany September 26, 1955 9 Claims. (Cl. 53h-198)' This invention relates to machines for making en- 'velopes and similar articles, and'more particularly to'-` "an apparatus in association with suchfmachines 'for autol"r'natically counting and packeting such envelopes'or simi- 'lar articles.

Heretofore it has been the lpractice 'to provide such Kansas City,

`given ysize packet.

machines with counting devices whereby the envelopes may be counted and separated'into groups, or the envelopes are counted by hand, after which vthe groups -to lbe yformed into packets are introduced into a separate wrapping machine, all of which requires a considerable amount of time and labor and there is possibility of` error -so that the proper number of envelopes arenot included Ain each packet.

Another difliculty is thatinodern high speedenvelope velopes. If additional operators and wrapping machines are employed to'keep up `'withthe normalcapacity of the envelope making machine,the labor cost and investrnent overcome the advantage gained by the high 'speed machines.

itis .therefore the principal object v of the present in- `venden to provide` counting and vpaclceting mechanism which is adapted to count and .packetautmatically the output of modern envelope'rnachines.

f Other objects of the invention are to' provide for automatically depositing envelopes'in timed relation within )traveling pockets to assure the desired number of envelopes in each pocket; to provide automatic'removal of the envelopes from each pocket and banding them together with a'wrapping strip; to 'provide for'automatically detecting packets containing less than therequired num- 'ber of envelopes; to provide'the traveling ',pocke'tsfwith flexible elements arranged to be spread apart forfacilitating insertion of the envelopes and to close suddenly on the envelopes when a given number has been vdeposited so as, to divert .the next envelope into the following pocket; to provide pockets that are readily=adjustable 'to accommodate any desired number of envelopes; and

toprovide elevating means for lifting the envelopes from the pockets and carrying them through the wrapping stations to a delivery table.

" making'machines-are'capable of a'very high'outp'u but 30 "wheni'the envelopes are to be packeted the' output must be limited in coordinationwith ythe present'co'rnpara-v tively slow methods of counting and packetin'gthe en- Other objects ofthe invention are to provide means forffeeding the wrappingstrip `from a roll, cutting off .therequired length, extending itaround a packet, and

sealing the ends of the strip together.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, we have provided improved structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the'accompanying drawings wherein:

' v Fig. lis a longitudinal section through an apparatus constructedin accordance with the present invention 'for chine, assembling the envelopes into groups each containreceivingthe `envelopes fromA an envelopemaking Inachine. frames 3 for carrying therebetween the various operat-v 2,917,884' Patented Dec. 22, .1959

Z ving a given number, wrapping each group into a packet and delivering the packets for boxing.

Fig. 1A shows a portion of the apparatus of a type -for feeding the envelopes from a stack after they have been. removed from the delivery end of an envelope lmaking machine.

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically a detector mechv anism for indicating and/or discarding a packet having less than a proper number of envelopes. Fig. 2A is aside elevational view of the detector.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the pocket yfilling mechanism, and Ashowing a pocket in open positionto receive envelopes one at a time from a feedfwheel.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but-showing the pocket snapped closedand containing a group of envelopes to `form-a kFig. 5 is affragmentary plan view of the conveyer mechanism particularly illustrating the arrangement ofl -the resilient elements which form the front and -rear vwalls of a pocket.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical'section of the delivery end -of the pocket conveyer, the lower end of the packet ele- Hvator, and the mechanism for applying a wrapping band.

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing a strip being wrapped about'a packet of envelopes as'they are lifted bythe `packet elevator. 'f

Fig. 8 is a'section similar to Fig. 6 vandshowing the parts in position for gumming the wrapping strip.

VYFig. 9 is a similar section showing movement of the gummed end of the strip into sealing contact with'k the opposite end.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: `1 illustrates an envelope packeting mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention for receivingl completed envelopes from off the delivery rollers 2 of a modern high speed envelope making ma- The mechanism 1 includes spaced apart sideing parts, which generally include a conveyer 4 forfeed ing the envelopes to a rotor 5 for depositing the envelopes into a pocket conveyer 6 for delivery to an elevator 7 which in turn removes the envelopes from 'the pocket conveyer 6 and conveysl them lthrough a strip wrapping mechanism S and a drier '9 for discharge onto an'olftake'conveyer 10. y

The conveyer 4 includes an endless belt v11 Qopera-t-v ing over rollers 12, 13 and 14, that are suitably carried between the side frames 3 and continuously operated in the direction of the arrow. The rollers 1 2 and 13 carry the upper run of the conveyer belt in aligning registry with the path of travel of the envelopes fed `by the rollers 2 to carry the envelopes to a roller 15whi'h lcooperates lwith p-ressure rollers 16 to feed the envelopes Vonto the rotor 5. Suitable 'pressurev rollers 17 and `18 V"are also used tocooperate with the upper run ofthe ,conveyer belt for assuring forward movement :of Vthe envelopes in successive order.

The rotor 5 is carried on a shaft 19 that is continuously driven in timed relation withl the conveyor 4 for depositmg envelopes one at a time into an open pocket ofthe pocketV conveyer 6, as 'later described.v

The pocket-conveyer 6' includes lspaced apart transverse shafts 20 and 21 that are rotatably carried by fthe. side frames 3, with the shaft 20 beinglocated below therrotor @5 vand the1shaft-21- at a lower levelcand spaced forwardly therefrom, as shown in Fig. 1. Adjustablymounted on each of the shafts 420and 21.are two pairs of sprockets 22 and 23 carrying two pairs of parallel chains 24-25-'and 247-25'. Pivotally mounted onv the chains-24fand 24 links of the chains 25-25 are fixed holders 27. Fixed t0 rocking and fixed holders are flexible elements 28 and 29 forming the front and rear Walls of pockets 30. Thev ter lines, with the ends of the envelopes projecting outwardly therefrom.

The sprockets carrying the chains 24 and 25 are positioned radially on their supporting shafts, so that the chains 24 and 24' are in advance of the chains 2S and 25 to carry the spring elements 28 and 29 in spaced apart relation in accordance with the spacing required to accommodate the number of envelopes for a given size packet. For example, this spacing may be adjusted to` accommodate a packet of twenty-five envelopes by moving one or the other sprockets so as to bring the spring elements 28 and 29 suiciently close together to accommodate twentyfive envelopes therebetween, or they may be moved apart a greater distance to accommodate, for example, fifty envelopes therebetween. With this arrangement, the outer chains 24-24 carry only the spring elements 28, and the chains 25--25 carry the spring elements 29. The spring elements 28 and 29 each preferably constitute flat springs that are fixed at their lower ends to suitable lugs 31 and 32 carried by the respective holders 26 and 127. The spring elements 28 which constitute the front walls of the pockets are slightly bent at their upper ends, as indicated at 33, in the traveling direction of the upper runs of the chains, and are of shorter length than the substantially straight elements 29 that form the rear walls of the pockets. In consequence of this arrangement, the longer spring elements 29 in their advancing movement are able to strike catch mechanisms at the respective sides of the rotor 5.

Each catch mechanism has a stop35, which may or may not be movable, and a pawl 36 which is under con- 'trol of the driving mechanism of the machine by means of a reciprocating rod 37. The rod 37 is pivotally connected by a pin 38 with an arm 39 fixed to a rock shaft 40 on which the pawl 36 is supported. The rock shafts 40 are suitably carried by the respective side frames 3. Owing to the continuous travel of the chains, the longer spring elements 29 that form the back Walls of the pockets engage the stops 3S and bend backwardly until they slip underneath the stops 35 and the spring action therein v ings them into contact with the pawls 36, to be detained In this way the entrance opening 41 of the,u

thereby.

pocket to be filled becomes temporarily enlarged and they rotor 5 does not fail to deposit the envelopes therein as long as an envelope is in position on the rotor. The delay just described by the stops 35, in advance of contact with the pawls 36 permits time for the pawls 36 to release the spring elements 29 of the pocket being filled, which release occurs at a predetermined interval, that is, at the moment when the filling of the pocket has been completed. When the outer ends of the springV elements are detained by the pawls 36, the outer ends of the spring elements 28 catch'up and make contact with the spring elements 29.

The tension of the elements 28 and 29 in cooperation with the pawls 36 is increased by action of the holders 26 being rocked in a forward direction during the'advance of the chains of the pocket conveyor. This is effected by cams 42 and 42' (Fig. 5) having cam grooves 43 in inner side faces thereof for engaging pins 44 that extend from the side faces of the pivoted holders. Therefore, as the chains move around the sprockets, the pins 44 enter the rcam grooves and pass through a high lobe portion 45 thereof to bring the following spring elements 28 into pressing contact with the spring elements 29 that have been detained by the pawls 36.

As soon as a pocket has been filled with a predetermined number of envelopes, the pawl 36 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) by pull lon the rods 37, whereby both of the detained springyelements 28 and 4 29 are suddenlyreleased to close the filled pocket and initially open the succeeding pocket. As will be noted in Fig. 3, the added tension of the spring element 28 is brought about by direct contact of that spring element with the element 29, and the corresponding rocking movement of the holder for the spring element 28. As soon as the spring elements are released by the pawls 36, the spring action therein flings them into position shown in Fig. 4, thus terminating the filling of the pocket and starting the opening of a succeeding pocket. By this time, the pawl 36 has been returned to its position where it engages the succeeding spring elements. In this way the action is sufiiciently fast for the next envelope t'o slide into the pocket behind the spring element 28. During this procedure, the spring elements forming the rear wall of the pocket now to be filled are freed from the stop 35 gr come into contact with the meanwhile returned pawl If it happens that the rotor S fails to supply the correct number of envelopes, this would result in a faulty filling of a pocket 30. In order to avoid such exigency, a photoelectric cell 46 (Figs. l and 2) of any known or convenient type is arranged above the delivery rotor 5. Every time an envelope fails to appear under the cell, the photoelectric cell functions to cause an electric impulse to be transmitted to an intensifier relay y47 (Fig. 2) to energize a solenoid 48 that pushes a pin 49 in a wheel 50 from one side of the wheel to project to the opposite side of the wheel, so that eventually when a faulty packet has arrived at the stacking table 51 of the conveyer mechanism 9, the protruding pin 49 of the wheel 50 makes contact witha switch 52 to establish circuit with an ejector 54 that is operated by an electromagnet 55 to eject that packet and push the faulty packet out of the stack of packets being moved along the table 51. The wheel 50 may be rotatably mounted in any suitable position on one of the side frames and driven in timed relation with movement of the packets of envelopes so that when the faulty packet reaches the place of the ejector, it is discarded.

During movement of the pockets, the envelopes therein are joggled by a suitable vibrating mechanism, as indicated at 56, to register the edges of the respective envelopes preparatory to applying the wrapping band, as now to be described, and which section of the apparatus is best illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive.

As a pocket is filled by the rotor 5 at a station designated I, a filled pocket reaches a station II at the delivery end of the pocket conveyer and in a position where the envelopes are lifted out of the pocket by means of the elevator 7. The elevator 7 includes an endless chain 57 operating over upper and lower sprockets 58 and 59 that are carried on transverse shafts 60 and 61. The shaft 60, along with, for example, the shaft 20, is operated in timed relation with the shaft 9 of the wheel 5, so that the conveyer and elevator are in continuous movement with the pocket conveyer advancing at a rate relative to the wheel 5 so that the proper number of envelopes is delivered into each pocket, depending upon the relative spacing of the spring elements 28 and 29 which form the front and rear walls of the pockets. The elevator chain 57 carries at spaced intervals laterally extending arms 62 to engage under a packet of envelopes at the station IVI, as shown in Fig. 1, and-to lift the packet of envelopes upwardly between guide rails 63 and 64.

lust prior to lifting of the packet of envelopes out of the pocket, a strip of wrapping material 65 is pulled from a reel 66 and moved across the path of the packet by feed rollers 67 and 68, a suitable guide roller 69 being provided to change the direction of the strip. The strip 65 is fed between upper and lower grippers 70 and 71 for gripping the strip after a predetermined amount has been fed bef its 'free end supported on A pressure plate l The wrapped packet continues its upward'movement from l' v the banding station III to a dryingfstationflV, which may lcomprise.. the drying tunnel 9 in which the adhesive is dried by action of a heating element 91 '(vFig'. 1 hot air "gaged and held vby a downwardly moving'suction nozzle 78 having a suction port 78. rlfhe nozzle in its movement 1presses the free end 77 of the strip downwardly over :the

front -face of the packet While the opposite end, vis still "being heldby the gripper-stas shown in Fig. 7. The suc- Ition nozzle i78 is carried by an arm 79 and movesuthe ,nozzle in Ia direction as indicated by the broken arrow 80 in Fig. '7; v t this point a pressure plate Sluis 'brought V`vinto contact with the rear face of the packetby parallel links 82 and to cooperate with the nozzle78 holding' the'pa'cketl incompressionas the striplisbeing ten A` si' o1t1et:l' therearound. At this point another -suction nozzle desorption of 'the menne, hawever a brief summary t of the operation'is as follows:

IkAssuming that the envelopes are being delivered in `successivey order from an Aenvelope making machine as shown in Fig. l, the envelopes .pass ontothe upper run of the conveyer 11 and between the feed rollers 15 'and 16, where theyl are picked up by the rotor 5 and moved intodthe first pocket that is moving under the `discharge side of the rotor.v The fpawls 36 have detained the rear spring elements 29' for that pocket and are Lholding them in open position as the `front spring elements 28 continue their forward movement. The envelopes are vdeposited in the pocket one at a time until the pawl 36 is retracted to release the spring'elements 29 of the pocket. Prior to .this 'time' the 'following spring elements 28 of the next pocket were pressing the spring l "elements29 so that they snap across the dischargepoint "8:4 comeslinto position'to holdthe tape in contaetwith the' jrear-face ofthe paeketwhilej the vacuum-through the port 78I is released and the nozzle 73 Isl'idesjoverlthe free 'end 77 of the strip `as it moves downwardly/'to its lower- `most position below the packet, as lshown in Fig. 8.

Meanwhile, a strippusher 85 catches the other end 86of Vthe'strip with 4release of that end of the strip by the grippers 70 and .71, and moves. it underneath the packet and into contact with a gurnming segment 87 which vis supplied with vadhesive from a pickup roller 88 rotatably mountedwithinjan adhesive container 89 that fis suitably carried between thevframes 3`of the machine; As s oon as kthe'gum has been applied, the nozzle'78 begins its return 1 movement and the strip pusher 85 begins its return toits original retracted position, whereupon the gummed'end evofhthe strip is re-engaged by the suctionnozzle 78, but 4"this time a suction port '90 therein becomes effective to grip thekend 86 of the strip'and as thefnozzle moves upwardly to tighten the strip:z about thel lower 'portion )of thefpacket and to bring thelgumrnedportion thereof finto contact with the other end 77 of the strip, that is, the end being held bythe suction nozzle 8'4. When the ysuction nozzle 78 has contacted the gummed end 86 of the strip withV the end 77, the1vacuumthroughthe port f 9Q is shutoff and thepressing faceof the nozzle78 completes thecontact. The suction nozzles 78v and S4 and 81 now return yto their original' positions.

orany other suitable heating medium.

, When ,the'wrappedpacket reaches a position abover 'the table 51,32 an oscillatoryarm'92 swings into'position ..t'o mov'eithev wrapped packet Aofi the arm 62 of the elelvator yTand onto the table 51 for movement therealong by means of the upper -run 93 of theconveyer 10.v The ,conveyer 10 is operated by rollers 94 and .9 5, so that the upper run 93 thereof extends along thetable tok carry thewrapped packets in stacked relation to the rear end ',thereof, where they are removed for boxing.

of the rotor 5 and the next envelope isdelivered into 'the `following pocket. `Time is kallowed for the releasewof the ,elements 29 since the stop 35 detains the elements 29 ofthefllowing pocket. As the pockets continue their movement, the elements 2'9 of the following' pockets vslip from under theA stop 35 andere' engaged by the pawl 36 `until the following pocket `has been lled with 'the 'required number of envelopesf Theenvelopes are jostled by the agitator 56 so that theedges thereof are registered in the respective pockets.

vShould an envelope fail to appear in position on the rotor 5 below the photoelectric cell 46, a current impulse is passedto therelay 47A to energize the solenoid 48 to cause the pin 49 then' registering Vtherewith to `be projected from the opposite sideof the wheel 50. vWhen the ji'rst pack of envelopes reaches the end of thefco'n `tve`yer 6, an arm 62 on the elevator 7 moves under the pack at the stationII. Previousto this 'time a section of the strip 65 has been fed across the-upwardpath `of that pack of envelopes so that the "free lend of the strip is carried on the4 support'76. The grippers 70 and 71 clos'e 0n the strip and the blades 74 and 75operate to sheer off the gripped endfof the strip. As the pack vis carried upwardly by the elevator, the upper "edge of the pack makes Vcontact vwith the strip and carries it upwardly therewith s that a portion of the strip is carried `up the rear face of the pack, across the top edge thereof, and partially'down'the forward face of thepack,'as shown vin Fig. 7. The nozzle 78 has now comeinto contact withthe free end 77 of vthe strip and the lvacuum port ,78'Y is eiectiveto engage the end of the strip and pull 'it down over the pack'o'f envelopes. The vacuum through If the E'electric eye has previously spottedfailure of,k l

'a'n 'envelopeto be fed into a packet, the pin actuated by the electric eyeis now in position to'engage the-'switch 52 which energizes the electromagnet 55 so that the "pusher-54 comes into play and moves the packet off of 'the conveyer 10.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. lA, y the envelopes arevfed from the bottom 'of astaek 97 that is carried by a stack support 98 onto the Upper run yof the feed conveyerbelt 1,1. With this type of feed, the envelopes are removed as they are discharged from the envelope making machine and placed in the stack support 98 from'where they are delivered to the counting wheel, pocket conveyer and strip wrapping mechanism, as previously described.

-the `port-"78'l is shut oif and the nozzle 78'co'ntinues `its ydownward movement relative to the front face of the pack.""However, before the free end 77 of the stript-is V'releasedl by vthe nozzle, the nozzle 84 comes into play to hold the tension on the strip as the nozzle 78 slides therefrom and continues its movement to a position below the upwardly movin-g pack, as shown in Figd'S. The pre'ssure plate 81 now cornesy into pressing contact with the'pack to'cooperateV with thenozzle 78in pressing the envelopes together. The pusher then comes into play and the grippe'rs 70 and 71 are released so that the pusher 85 carries thefree end of the strip 86 under the' pack andninposition for the end thereof toY be engaged by .the vgum'applicator segment 87'to applygum onthe free end ofthe strip while it is being held by the pusher 85. The adhesive applicator 87 continues its movement past the pusher. The pusher 85 retractsV out of the way of upward 'movement of the nozzle 78. A suction is effected through the port 90 of the nozzle as thenozzle engages the gummed end 86 of the strip, so that the end 86 of the strip is carried upwardly'of the forward face of the pack andr into lapping contact with vthe end 77, the pressure ofV the nozzle being sufficient to effect a seal .and completion of the band. The pressure plate 81 having lbeen released, the wrapped packet ofenvelopes passes freelyl therefrom and isucarriedby thel elevator through the drying tunnel to a position where itis die? in Fig. 1, from Where it is removed for boxing.

If a. packet of envelopes reaching the table 51 is one containing fewer than the required number of envelopes, the projected pin makes contact with the switch 52 to eiect operation of the ejector 54. After contact with the Switch S2, the projected pin is returned to retracted position by means of a cam 99 (Fig. 2A).

If the counting and wrapping machine is a separate and distinct machine from the envelope making machine, the envelopes may be removed from the envelope making machine and placed in a stack 97, as shown in Fig. 1A, from where they are delivered onto the conveyer 4.

From the foregoing it is obvious that we have provided for the counting and wrapping of envelopes into packets in a simple and eicient manner and -in con formity with the output of a modern high speed envelope making machine.

l What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I.

l, In an envelope making machine having av device for deliveringl finished envelopes in successivecorder, a conveyer having envelope` receiving pockets, means for actuating lthe conveyer to move said pockets into receiving relation with the delivery device for filling the pockets with envelopes to form Vpackets of a desired size, an elevator at substantially right angles to theconveyer for lifting the packets from said pockets, a wrapping device in the path of the elevator, a reel containing strip material for enwrapping said packets, a pair of feed rollers for feeding the strip material, a cutting device ,for severing the requisitie length of said strip material, grippers for holding one end of the severed strip during enwrapping of a packet, a pressing plate for exerting pressure on said packet-at right angles to the elevator, asuction nozzle at the other sidel of the packet for tightening one end of the strip, another suction nozzle for leading the other end of the strip across to the other s ide of the packet, means for supplying adhesive to the other end of the strip, saidl first named suction nozzlexbeing reversible to lift the gummed end of the stripover the one end of the strip and to press and therebyaixithe ends of the strip together, and means for discharging the packet from the elevator. K

2. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs, including means containing and supporting a givenv count of envelopes in a pack, banding means above saidpack containing means for applying a tape around the'V pack of envelopes and secuiing ends thereof, an elevator having meansmovable under the pack of Aenvelopes in said pack containing means to lift the pack out of said containing means and to carry the pack through the banding means and to support the pack in continuous movement while the tape is applied to the pack, and means for discharging the` banded pack of envelopes from the elevator. y v

v 3. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs,` including means containing Aand supporting a given count of envelopes in a pack, banding means above said pack containing means for applying a tape around the pack of envelopes and securing ends thereof with an adhesive, an elevator having means movable under the pack of envelopes in said pack containing means to lift the pack out of said containing means and to carry the pack through theV banding means and to support the pack in continuous movement while the tape is applied to thet pack, a drier in the path of the elevator to dry the adhesive, and means, for discharging the banded 'pack otenvelopes from the elevator.

4. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs, vincluding spaced apart front ysupports for the ends of a pack of envelopes,-llexible elements spaced from and co-operating with the front Supports in forming'a' pocket therebetween for containinga given-'count of envelopes,

means for retaining the tlexible elements in retracted position while the envelopes are rbeing inserted into vthe pocket and for releasing the exible elements to press the envelopes against the front supports, banding-means above the front supports forjapplying a tape around `the pack of envelopes, an elevator having means movable under the pack of envelopes in said pocket to lift the pack of envelopes out of the pocket vand to carry the pack in continuous movement through the banding means while the tape is applied to the pack, and means for discharging the banded pack of envelopes from the elevator.

5. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs,. including spaced apartfront supports for the ends of a pack of envelopes, llexible elements spaced fromV and cooperating with the front supports in forming a pocket therebetween for containing a given count of envelopes, means for retaining theilexible elements in retracted position while the envelopes are being inserted into the pocket and for releasing the exible elements topress the envelopes against the front supports, means for joggling the envelopes in the pocket to register the bottom edges of the envelopes, banding means aboveV the front supports for applying a tape around the pack of envelopes, an elevator having means movable under the pack of envelopes in said pocket to lift the envelopes out of the pocket and to carry the pack in continuous movement through the banding means while the tape is applied to the pack, and means for discharging the banded pack of envelopes from the elevator.

`6. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs, including spaced apart supports for the ends of a pack of envelopes, a continuously movable pack carrying means having portions movable between the supports and under the pack to lift the pack from the supports to carry the pack in continuous movement through a xed path, means for feeding a tape across the path of the pack tobe carried acrossy faces of the outermost envelopes of the pack as the pack is being carried through said path, cutting means-for severing a requisite length of the tape to encompass the pack of envelopes, means for gripping the severed end of the tape during continued movement of the pack of envelopes, means extending parallel with said path for exerting pressure on one face of the pack in the direction of said carrying means, a pusher projectable across the retractive side of the pack after release of the gripping means to carry the severed end of the tape across the retractive side ofthe pack, means cooperating with the pusher for applying adhesive to the end of the tape, a suction nozzle, means for supporting the suction nozzle for substantially reciprocal movement in the direction of movement of the carrying means to engage and pull the free end of the vtape (over the opposite face of the pack while the pack is being acted upon by the pressure exerting means, a second suction nozzle, means supporting the second suction nozzle for movement into position to engage and hold the free end of the tape while the rst named suction nozzle disengages fromthe tape and moves to the retractive side of the pack to engage the severed end ofthe .tape upon retraction of the pusher and to carry saidsevered end of the tape with the adhesive thereon into contact with the held'end `of the tape to connect said ends of the tape, and means for discharging the banded pack of envelopes Yfrom said carrying means.

7. An apparatus for banding envelopes into packs as described in claim 6, including a drier between the suction nozzles and the pack discharge means.

SQApparatus for banding envelopes into packs, in-

cluding spaced apart supports for the ends of a packrof envelopes, an elevator having arms movable between the to encompass the pack of envelopes, means for gripping the severed end of the tape during continued movement of the pack of envelopes, a pusher projectable under the pack after release of the gripping means to carry the severed end of the tape under the pack, means cooperating with the pusher for applying adhesive to the end of the tape, a suction nozzle supported for substantially reciprocal movement with movement of the elevator to engage and pull the free end of the tape downwardly of the opposite face of the pack, a second suction nozzle movable into position to engage and hold the free end of the tape while the first named suction nozzle disengages from the tape and moves to engage the severed end of the tape upon retraction of the pusher and to carry said severed end of the tape with the adhesive thereon into contact with the end of the heldend of the tape to connect said ends of the tape, and means for discharging the banded pack of envelopes from the arms of the elevator.

9. Apparatus for banding envelopes into packs, including spaced. apart front supports for the ends of a pack of envelopes, flexible elements spaced apart and cooperating with the front supports in forming a pocket therebetween for containing a given count of envelopes on edge, means for retaining the exible elements in retracted position while a given quantity of envelopes are inserted into the pocket and for releasing the exible elements to press the envelopes in face to face contact, an elevator having means movable under the envelopes in said pocket to lift the envelopes out of the pocket, means for feeding a tape across the top of the pack lifted by the elevator to be carried across the faces of the outermost envelopes of the pack as the pack is being lifted by the elevator, cutting means for severing a length of the tape to encompass the pack of envelopes, means for gripping the severed end of the tape during continued movement of the packv of envelopes by the elevator, a pusher reciprocable under the pack after release of the gripping means to carry the severed end of the tape under the pack, means for applying adhesive to one end portion of the tape, a suction nozzle, means supporting the suction nozzle for substantially reciprocal movement in the directional movement of the elevator to engage and pull the free end of the tape downwardly of the front of the pack, a second suction nozzle, means supporting the second suction nozzle for movement into position to engage and hold the free end of the tape while the first named suction nozzle disengages from the tape and moves downwardly to engage the severed end of the vtape upon retraction of the pusher and to carry said end of the tape upwardly upon return movement of said first named suction nozzle to bring the end of the tape with the adhesive thereon into contact with the held end of the tape, and means for discharging the banded` pack of envelopes from the elevator.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

